A cokpohation of massa



C.A.MATSON LACE TIPPING MACHINE March 11, 1924; 1,486,838

Filed Oct. 6. 1922 7 Sheetsfsheet 1 an@ ,1 W Mm March l1,- 1924:

C. A. MATSON LACE TIPPING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OC'L. 6. 1922 March 11, 1924.-

c. A. MArsoN LACE TIPPING MACHINE pmu Filed Oct. 6. 1922 March 11, 1924.

C A MATSON LACE TIPPINC- 'MACHINE Filed Oct. 6. 1.922

7 Sheel-Sheet 4 ll i 2 l Ivwr A my.,

March I1 1924;

C. A. MATSON LACE T1 PPING MACHINE Filed Oct. 6. 1922 7 Shees-Sheet 5 March 11, 1924; c. A. MATSON LACE'TIPPING MACHINE Patented Mar. 11, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL A. lflATSON, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOPp TO MATSON LACE TIPPING- IEACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS'.

LAGE-Tirelire MACHINE.

Application filed October S, 1922. `Serial No. 592,814.

To uZZ 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Cani. A. MATsoN, a citizen of the United. States, and resident of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State ut lsassachusetts, have invented an Improvenient in Lace-Tipping liaeliines, ot wiich the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My present invention relates to lace tipping machines, and more particularly to an automatically operating lace tipping machine ior applying a moldable or composition material to form a fabric tip.

Heretofore in the lace tipping art where nioldable material was utilized 'for the formn ing of the so-ealled cabric tips, it has been extremely difficult to handle either the moldable material-without gumming, sticking, and injuring the machine, and also such a degree el heat was required that the lace was apt to be injured. Furthermore, in prior lace tipping of this class, the dies were usually heated to such an extent that the molding operation required a long length oitl time to set; hence it was a very slow process. Moldable .material must be sufficiently cool er dry to maintain its molded form.

hIy present invention is intended to obviate these prier difficulties; to provide sutlieient heat to properly mold the material; to maintain the dies suli'iciently cool to quickly nel, the tip et the lace; to permit great speed of opea'tion, aud to perform the feeding, measuring, lace cutting, material heating and supplying, as well as the forming and eon'ipleting ol the lace as a continuous operation and with capacity -for great speed.

In my development in this art, I have devised a lacing which may be tipped with a molded or moldable material of novel ingredients, as well as of Celluloid, rubber compounds, or the like, and the present machine is to apply such material to the laces without damage or injury to the fabric ot the lacing, and using a predetermined amount of material for each tipping operation. Such tips el a. molded or moldable material are, as applied by my machine, semi-flexible and tlereiore'able to withstand wear and abuse withoutinjury. As laces are of various Yforms, round, flat, etc., it has heretofore been extremely dii'iicult to so devise a lace tipping machine ior tipping laces that will work equally well on lat or round material and it has been customary in the majority of cases, where it is desired to tip lat lacings, to put such lacings through a preliminary operation tor the purpose of rounding the ends of such lacings prior to the putting on ot the lacing tip. lVith the machine of my present invention, either type of lacing, round or tiat, may be tipped with equal 'facility as the sequence of operations is such that the lacing tip is lirst impregnated with a predetermined amount of moldable material, the tip being kept heated for a predetermined length of time after impregnation, and linally the impregnated end of the lacing is molded, and set, the flat lacing, if such be the one worked upon, being made substantially circular-in cross section and, with my improved machine, it is possible to mold the moldable material over an extreme end of the tip thus enclosing the lacing end with a moldable tip.

rI`he principal object of my present invention is an irriproved lace tipping machine for tipping the ends of laeings, such as shoe lacings, with a tip of molded or moldable material.

Another object of my invention is an ini-- proved machine of this type wherein a predetermined amount of moldable material is placed on a lacing end and heat applied {to thoroughly impregnato the lacing end with such moldable material.

A `further object of my invention is an improved machine ol' this type for molding and setting the tip of moldable material to enclose the end of the lacing.

Other objects and novel features of the construction and arrangement of parts comprising my invention will be apparent as vthe description of the invention progresses.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is an end elevation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, certain parts being shown in section, of my tin machine taken from the same side as Fig. l;

8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but from the opposite side of the machine;

Fig. i is a plan View of that much of the machine shown in either Fig. 2 or 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4e;

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. f1;

Fig. 7 is a vertical end section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view, in elevation, of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2, with such mechanism shown in one of its positions;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged elevation similar' to Fig. 8, but with the parts illustrated shown in another position;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the nieehauisin shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the clutch mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional View of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6, the mechanism of the present figure, however, being` in a different position from that shown in such Fig. 6;v

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, but with the elements in still another position;

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view on the line 14H14 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a partial rear view of the machine, showing the position of the one revolution clutch mechanism;

Fig. 16 is enlarged elevation of the lacingl guiding means shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view of the tip mechanism illustrated in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view on the line 18-18 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view on the line 19 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view on the line 20-20 of Fig. 2., and

Fig. 2l is a sectional elevation of a porH tion of the lacing feed chain.

Referring to the drawings, 'i0 designates a base suitable for mounting on a bench or pedestal, as may be desired, and secured to such base, in any suitable manner, is a hollow frame 11 having formed integrally therewith, and at one end thereof, bearings 12. Secured to the base 10 at one side of the end thereof, is a bearingstandard 13 provided with an adjustable bearing 1d in alinement with the bearings 12, and in the bearings 12 and 14 is rotatably mounted a shaft 15 having secured at the end remote from the bearing 13 a hand or fly wheel 16, while mounted on the shaft 15, between one of the bearings 12 and the bearing 14. are tight and loose pulleys 17 and 18 respectively. Secured to the shaft 15 and between the bearings 12 is an eccentric 19 about which is fitted an eccentric strap 20. This eccentric strap 2O is provided with a boss 2l drilled and tapped to receive one end of a connecting stud 22, a lock nut 23 being utilized to hold the stud 22 in adj usted. position with relation to the boss 21. The other end of this stud 22 hts into a threaded hole in one end of a connecting member 24e, a lock nut 25 being utilized to hold the connecting member 24 in adjusted position with relation to the stud 22 and therefore the eccentric strap 20. The other end of the connecting member 2% is pivotaliy connected by a shaft 26 to a pair of lugs or ears 27 formed integral with a sliding member or cross heal 28 that is slidably mounted in the hollow frame 11, bolts 2D cooperating with a cover plate 3() to adjust the cross head 28 in such frame 1l. F orined integral with, und on 'the top of the cover SO, are lugs or ears 31 in which are pivotally niounted a plate 82, a bolt 33 for adjusting the position in the machine of an electric heat ing unit Sil secured to the end of the side of the plate 32. rllhis plate 82, adjacent the pivotal connection thereof, is provided with an operating handle for the purpose of raising the end of the plate 32, and therefore the heating unit 84C, for the purpose of inspection or replacement, as may be desired. This plate 32 is perforated at 36 to provide a lead-in hole for electric conductors 37 leading from a suitable source of current to the heating unit 34. Formed on the end of the cross head 28 at the end remote from the connecting member 24: is an extension 88, to the under side of which is secured by bolts 39 a cutter and former l() for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Secured to each side of the frame member 11, and extending in alinement therewith, at the end of the frame remote from the shaft 15, are bearing plates all.. At the ends of the plates 41 are bearings in which are rotatably mounted a shaft carrying at its ends and outside of the plates 41. a sprocket wheel i3 in alin ement with sprocket wheels le secured to a shaft -a that is rotatably mounted forwardly to the shaft d2, but in the frame member 1l. Over these sprocket wheels 13 and/elllrun feed chains 46, the particular construction and function of which will be hereinafter described. Formed integral with each side plate d1, and on the outside thereof, is a lug i7 through which is threaded a bolt a8, the end of which engages a pivoted lever 19, pivotallq7 mounted on the plate t1 and having rotatably mounted at its Jiree end a sprocket wheel that meshes with each feed chain 1.6, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the lever 49 and sprocket wheel 50 and adjusting bolt i8 acting to regulate the tension of the feed chain 46.

Formed integral with, downward from the lower and extending surface of the cross head 28 is a member 51 provided with a guidway and an elongated slot 52, and mounted in the slot 52 and adjustable along the length of the slideway, is a cam member 53 secured in adjusted position in such guideway and slot 52 by a bolt and nut 5aand 55 respectively. Formed integral with, and on the interior ofthe frame member 11, is a bearing boss 50 in which is secured a shaft and on such shaft is rotatably mounted a member 57 having formed integral with, and extending radially therefrom a member 58 in which is pivotally mounted one end of a curifed connectingl rod 59, the pivot pin of this connecting rod 50 having attached thereto one end of a coil spring 60, the other end of this coil. spring being attached to a de- ],iending pin 61 secured to the frame member 11. Also formed on the member 57, and er:- tending radially outward therefrom, and at an angle to the member 58, is a member 62 to which is rotatably mounted at its outer, or free end, a roller 63 lying in the path of, and adapted to be engaged by, the cam meinber 53 secured on the depending member 51.

The other end of the curved connecting rod 50 is pivotaily attached to one end of a rocker arm @a rotatably mounted intermediate its ends on a shaft 65 rotatably mounted in bearings in the frame member 11. The end of the rocker arm Gat remote from the pivotal connection therewith of the curved connecting rod 59 has pivotally mounted therein a pawl 60 that meshes with, and is adapted to drive, a ratchet wheel 07 that is keyed to the shaft (i5. Secured to the shaft 05 a gear 08 which meshes with, and drives, a similar gear 69 secured to the shaft 43. From the above, it is evident that rotation of the shaft 15 by means of a belt or other mechanism passing over the tight and loose pulleys 17 and 18 will cause a reciproeation of the cross head 28 and a reciprocating motion of the curved connecting rod 59 by means of the cam engaging with the roller G3 on each recilnocation of the cross head 28 and that such motion of the curved conne ti rod 59 will cause the pawl to enf and therefore impart intermittent or step by step movement to the feed chains 16. Mounted in the plates i1 on the shaft 70 is a heating element 71 that is located beneath the upper reach of the feed chains 4G, feed wires 72 leading from a source of power furnishing the heating power for such element 71, the material, therefore, carried by the feed chains 4:0 passes between the heating elements, or units, Bal; and 71, and the degree of heat given off by such units may be regulated in any usual or desired manner.

lVithin the hollow fran'ie member 11, and formed integral therewith, is a bearing 73, and attached to the side plates i1 and depending downwardly therefrom, is a bearfe and rotate the ratchet 07 step by step ing 74, while rotatably mounted in such bearings 7 3 and 74C is a shaft 75 that lies at an angle to the horizontal, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The end of this shaft 75 within the frame member 11 is provided with a slot 7 G, and encircling this end of the shaft is one element 77 of a clutch, this element being provided with a circumferential .groove 7 8 in which works a pin 70 attached to the upper end of an operating lever 80 that is pivotally mounted at 81 to a member 82 that is secured to a wall of the frame member 11 by bolts 83. rlhis element 77 is provided with a key (not shown) that engages with the slot 76 thus allowing longitudinal movement of the element 77 with respect to the shaft 75 while forcing such element to rotate with the shaft. rFhe extreme end of the member 77 is provided with a tongueA 84 that engages with the groove 85 in a collar 86 secured to a stub shaft 87 that is rotatably mounted in a portion of the member 82, this shaft 87 having secured thereto a bevel gear 88 that meshes with, and is driven by, a bevel gear 89 secured to a shaft 90 rotatably mounted in bearings in the frame member 11. The shaft 00 extends outwardly beyond the limits of the frame member 11 and has secured to its outer end a gear 91 that meshes with, and is driven by, a gear 92 secured to the main drive shaft 15. lNhen the clutch elements 77 and 86 are brought into engagement with each other, as shown in Fig. 11, rotation of the main drive shaft 15 will cause a rotation of the shaft 75. Secured to the end of the shaft 75 remote from the clutch element 77 is a clamp 93 provided with a clamping bolt 9d, this clamp being utilized to clamp in position a rod or tube 95 that extends laterally from, and at right angles to, the shaft 75, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The free end of this rod, or tube, 95 carries a short section of tube 90 and through which passes the endless lacing 97 from which the laeings, such as shoe lacings, are cut.

Extending between the side plates d1 is a shelf 99 on which rests, or secured, if desired, a tank 100 which is to be filled, or kept filled, with liquid molded or moldable n'iaterial, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. On one of the side plates 41 is a depending arm 101 on which is pivotally mounted, intermediate its ends, a lever 102, the lower end of this l ver 102 being provided with a laterally extending pin 103 that extends into the path of, and is engaged by, a cam 10ft secured to the shaft 75 and this shaft will cause an oscillating or rocking movement of the lever 102 about its pivotal point. Secured to the lever 102 at a point above the pivotal connection thereof on the arm 101 is one end of a coil spring 137, the other end of this spring being connected at a point 138 to the side plate Ztl. The upper end of the lever 102 is provided with a laterally extending pin 105 that engages in a slot 10G in a lever arm 107 attached to a shaft 108 rotatably mounted in bearings in the side plates 41. Secured to the shaft 10G, and in such position as to dip into the tank 100, is a curved arm, or lever, 109, the outer or tree end oit this arm being bent, as shown at 110, and adjacent this portion 110 is pivotally mounted a jaw 111 near the upper end ot which is secured one end ol a spring 112, the other end ot this spring being attached to the arm 109 at a point intermediate its ends, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. rlhe roching movement ot the lever 102 will, through the lever 107, impart a rocking movement to 'the arm 109 to feed a predetermined portion otl liquid molded or moldable material from the tank 100 upward. Formed integral with, and depending dor-,'nwardly from one oit the side plates 111., is a inen'iber 113 provided at its lower end with a bearing member 11/1 and near its top end with a bearing member 115, these bearing` members being in alinement with each other and having rotatably mounted therein a shaft 110, the lower end of which is bent outwardly, as shown at 117, and is adapted to be cngaged by a cam 113 secured to the shaft 75, while at tlie top end is secured a laderally extending curved arm 119 the end ol which engages the pivotal jaw 111, the throw ot the cam 118 being timed, and ot such dimensions as to move the pivotal jaw 111 over into practical engagement with the end 110 of the lever 109 when such lever or arm 109 is in its uppermost position. Secured to 'the shalt 116 at a point intermediate its ends and below the shelf 99 is a radially' extending arm or pin 120 to the outer end of which is secured one, end ot a coil spring 121, the other end oit this spring being secured to a depending pin 122 secured to the end face of thev shelf 99, the function of this spring being to insure the return of the shalt 106 to its initial position after having been moved to its maximum travel therefrom by the cam 118.

lleierring to Fig. 2l, it will be noted that the feed chain is comprised of a plurality of blocks 123 and a plurality ot links 121, the blocks 123 being llexibly joined to the links 1241 by pins 125. Each ot the blocks 123 is provided with an extension 120 formed integral with, and at one end of the block 123, this extension 126 being of such length as to extend from the forward end of one block 123 to slightly in advance of the rear end of the preceding block 123, as shown in Fig. 21. as 'the feed chain a6 moves over the sprocket wheels 43, 14, and 50, in the direction of the arrow shown, for example, in Fig. 2, and particularly as such leed chain passes over the sprocket 43, the extension 120 moves outwardly from its position adjacent the rear end or" the block 123 so as to term a substantially V shaped opening between itself and its associated links 121- and into which opening the lacing 97 from which the shorter lacings to be tipped are manufactured, as will be hereinafter described, is fed.

Un the end of the platform 10 on each side ot, and adjacent the frame member 11 remote from the .main drive sha't't 15 are pillow blocks 127 in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 123, and to this shaft at each side ol' the trame member 11 is adjusi'zably mounted carriers 129, these carriers being adjusted longitudinally of the shaft 123 and each provided with a split end in which is adjustably mounted a curved bearing or rod 130, these bearings 130 extending upward and outward from the frame member 11 to a point beneath and adjacent the shalt 12, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Secured to the base ot the platform 10 to the end 'tace thereof beneath the shalt 123 and practically in alinement with the shalt is a member 131 in which is adjustably mounted a curved bearing 132 that extends outwardly and downwardly to a point substantially under the outer end of the bearings 130, the extreme outer end of this bearing 132 being provided with a substantially hoch-like member 133. lilounted on the bearing, ad jacent the member 131., is a bloei; 1.3-1- ha v ing secured therein on either side ol' the bearing 132 a rod 135, this rod extending downwardly, then upwardly, then outwardly substantially parallel to the bearing 132 and then downwardly at 130, this portion 135 defining with the substantially hook-like member 133 an opening into which the lacing 97 is fed by the arm 95. The position of the rods 135 with respect to the bearing 132 is clearly shown in Fig. 20, and the position the lacing 97 occupies with respect to such bearings is also indicated in such figure. 11s the main drive shait 15 rotates, it imparts au .intermittent step by step movement to the tecn chains L.l0 in the direction ot the arrow shown in the drawings, which, as they pass upwardly over the sprockets 13, delining a substantially "J shaped opening between the successive meinbers 126 of the blocks 123 and the links 121. Simultaneous with this intermittent step by step movement ot the feed chains 10, there is a continuous rotation ot the shatt 75 carrying the right angularly extendingl arm 95 that in turn carries the short length of tube 96 and through which passes the lacing 97. Previous to the operation ot' the device, the lacing 97 is led through the tube 96 and attached to any convenient portion of the apparatus as, for example, the bearing 132 adjacent the block 13a. 'l` he speed of rotation ot the shaft 75 is so timed with respect to the intermittent step by' step movement ot the feed chains 46 that a loop of the lacing 97 is ted under the hook-like end 138 of the bearing 132 over the bearing 130 into the V shaped passage between the projection 126 and the link 124. of the iced chains over the other bearing 190 and downward again under the hook-like end 133, the shaft 7 5 completing one revolution and laying one coil of lacing 97 for each step by step movement of the feed chains.

Located. on the Hoor of the room or building in which the apparatus above described is located, and at a sufficient distance from the end of the rotating shaft 7 5 is a hollow standard 188 and .secured to the top of this standard is a member 139 which has secured to its surface at one side thereot` a bearing member 140 in which is pivotally mounted a U shaped member 141 having` rotatably mounted at the ends thereof rollers 14.2 which engage with the top surface ot the member 189, a coil spring 143 being se` cured one end to the substantially U shaped member 141 and the other end to the bearing member 140. Secured. to the top ot the member 189 are a plurality of eyes 144- aud through which is reeved a lacing 97, this lacing passing through the eyes 144 and under rollers 142, as clearly shown .in Figs. 16 and 17. This construction con stitutes a tension device 'for the lacing 97. Pivotally mounted on the standard 188 at point intermediate its ends is a lever 145, the upper free end of which is provided with a hole or eye 146 while the other end has attached thereto one end ot a coil. spring 147, the other end of this coil spring being attached to a pin 148 secured to the standard 138, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, this spring 147 tending to hold the free end oit the lever 145 in its most outward position with respect to the standard 188. The lacing 97 ordinarily .is brought to the rnachine on a reel not shown) and the lacing is led through the hole or eye 146, under the rollers 142, through the eyes 144. and then. through the short length of tube 96 attached to the end ot the arm 95, as above described. Pivotally secured to the lever 145 at a point between the tree end oit such lover and its pivotal connection to the standard 188 is an. arc ate member 149, the 'tree cud oi: this member passing through a slot 150 in the standard .l-38 and extends to a point beyond such standard. as clearly shown in Figs. 16 and 18. Secured to the standard 188 adjacent to. but beneath the member 149. is a bearing member 151 to which is pivotally attached a latch member 1F22. this latch member being provided with an arm 158 that lies in the path of movement et the arcuatemember 149 and 'with a bevelled hook end 154. Secured to the member 152 is one end of a coil spring 155, the other end of this coil spring being attached to an arm 156 secured to the stand* ard 138. Pivotally mounted on, and intermediate the ends of, the standard 188 is an operating lever 157. To the lower end of this lever is pivotally attached one end of a connecting link 158, the other end ot this connecting link 158 being in turn connected with the lower end of the lever 80, which is shown in enlarged view in Fig. 11, this lever directly operating clutch members 77 and 86 to connect the shaft 7 5 with the driving pinions 88 and 89, as above described. lhen the clutch members 77 and 86 are in engagement with each other, the operating lever 157 is in the position shown in Figs. 16 and 18; that is, such lever is engaged by the bevelled hook portion 154 of the latch member 152. The hole or eye 146 in the free end ot the arm 145 is of such diameter as to allow the lacingr 97 to pass freely therethrough. It, however, there is present in the lacing a defect such, for example, as a knot, that would prevent the lacing trom 'feeding freely through such hole 146, then. when the surplus that has passed through such hole 146 has been fed onto the feed chains 46 by the rotating arm 95, the tension exerted on the free end of the arm 145 will be sutiicient to overcome lthe tension et the sprin 147, and the arcuate member 149 will be moved to the left, as shown in Figs. 1 and 16, through the slot 150 when the end ot such arcuate member 149 engaging the arm 158 will rotate the latch member 152 about its pivot point, moving the bevelled latch portion 154 from engage ment with the end o'i the lever 157, re.- leasing the same when the lever 8O is moved to a position to throw the clutch elements 77 and 86 out of engagement with cach other by the coil spring 159 one end of which is attached to the lower end ot the operatinglever 8() and the other end attached to a point 160 on the floor of the room or building in which the apparatus is located, thus stopping the intermittent movement of the feed chains 46.

Secured to the cross head 28 at a point adjacent the former 40 a sl att 1.61 the ends ot which extend through. elongated slots '162 in the hollow trame member il. Secured to each end oi" the sha1"r 161 .is an. arm 16?, and to the tree end of this arm 163 is secured one end ot' a coil spi-in the other end oi" this coil. spring bein`r cured to a pin 165 that extends outwardly from a catch lever 166, this lever 166 ha ving' an upwardly extending lug 167 intermediate its ends and by means of which. the catch lever 166 is pivotally connected to the end ot the shaft 161 adjacent the arm 168. At the end of the hook lever 1.66 adjacent the end ot the feed chains 46 that pass over the sprockets 44 is a hook or catch 168 the pur- Aleseribed.

vis a link 169 having connected at a point intermediate its ends one end 0f a coil spi-in 170, the other end of this spring being` attached to an upwardly projecting member 171 formed integral with, and at the extreme end, of the lever 166. At the upper end o1 the link 169, and projecting` inwardly therefrom toward the hollow frame member 11, is a pin 172 which pin is adapted to be engaged by the depending faces or edges of a member 173 provided with a slet 171- through which passes an adjusting bolt 175 that screws into the top of the cover plate 39 and by means of which the meinber 173 may be adjusted along the line ot movement of the pin 172 as the same is reciprocated by the shalt 161 on the cross head 28.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 8 and 9, Fig. 8 shows the position or the hook 168 with respect to the feed chain 16 at the extreme inward movement of the cross head 28 and, therefore, the shaft 161, moves 'trom the position indicated in lh' 8 to the position indicated in Fig. 9. ln this movement the pin 172 engaging with the lace or edge of the member 173, moves the end of the catch lever 166, on which. is integrally formed the. element 171, downwardly rotating the catch lever 166 about its pivot-al connection on the shaft 161, thus raising the hook 168 upwardly and away from the feed chain 16. After th-e pin 172 has passed beyond the lower end of the member 173, the spring 16e moves the pin 172, and therefore that end of the hook lever 168 on which the same is mounted, upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 9, dropping` the hook 168 slightly ble-low the upper surface ovl-l the. `feed chain 16, as shown in such .F 9, with the hook 168 in position to engage with the lacing 97 on the ret-urn movement of the cross head 28, and pull the lacing from between the members 126 and 123. llivotally mounted to the side of the top cover plate 30 by screw 176 is a link 177, this link being spaced from the top cover plate 30 by a. sleeve 178. rThis link 177 is provided with an elongated slot 179 which engages with the project-ing reduced end of the shalt 161, and pivotally mounted at the lower end oil such slot 169 by bolt 180 and nut 181 is a lever 182, thisI lever bei ng pivot-ally mounted. on the bolt 180 at a point intermediate its` ends. The end of the lever 18() adjacent the sprocket le is enlarged and rounded, as shown at 183, while the other end is provided with an elongated slot 18% which engages with anoutwardly extending pin secured to the end oil the lever 166 and adjacent the elementl 171 thereon. 182 operates in conjunction with the This lever hoot:

insana lever 166 and, reilerring again to Figs. 8 and 9, it will be i cd that such. lever 182 moves from the position shown .in llig. 8 'lorwardly and then dowi'iwardly in an arcuate path into the position. shown in Fig. 9, in this movement engaging with the lacing 97, after it has been moved from4 between the members 126 and 123 by the hook 168, and lorcing such lacing downward and out oi engagement with any element of the ieed chains 16 and allowing the ends o1' such lacing to drop in such manner that the lacinof will be positioned in the round portion oi the bars 135, from whence such lacings are periodically removed by an attenilant.

Situated between the Jfeed chains 16 and near the sprockets 1st, but between the sprockets 1-1 and 13, and integral with the hollow member 1V1 is a cross bar 186 on which is located a `combined cutter and forming` block 187 that is adapted to cooperate with the block 16 carried by the cross head 28, bolts 188 being utilized to eliiect relative aljustment between such block 187 and the block rlfhe block 187 is substantially rectangular in cross section, as shown in l? 12 and 13, and is provided midway of its length, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, with a cut-in portion 189, the length oft this portion being the width oi lacing that is cut off in the operation of separating such lacing into predetermined lengths. lhe upper corner of this block 187 througln out its entire width and adjacent to, and associated with, the block 40, is cut away to iorm a substantially semi-circular groove 190. This groove 199 cooperates with a substantially semi-circular groove 191 in the block 10, as shown in Fig. 14n, these two grooves and 191 being the means en ployed to give to the ends of predetermined lengths oi' lacingi` a rounded shape and to simultaneously compress and harden the molded or moldable material with which such ends are saturated, and by cuttingr Yfrom the lacing that is o'tindetinite length a pon tion of a width equal to the element 189, as shown in Fig. 11, the grooves 199 and 191 acting to not only compress and harden the molded or moldable material on the lacing ends, but also causing a llow of such molded or inoldable material over the severed endsl of prede(erinined lc'a'igths, closing the ends and encnrinpy them in a shell. oi film ol molded or moldable material.

lllhile the pulleyY 17 has been described as a light pulley lo dislinguishlhe same from the pulley 18, which is a loose pulley, it is not tight in the sense that it is keyed to the main drive shaft 15, but only because it is utilized to drive such shaft 15. Referring now to Fig. 15, it will be noted that the hub of the pulley is provided with a projecting pin 193 that, as it rotates, enwith a pin. 194; that projectsout'- ifisssse wardly from a collar 195 that is keyed to the main drive shaft 15. r1`his pin 194 is slidable in the collar 195 in the direction of its length and is forced into its outermost position to be engaged by the pin 198 by a spring 196, a non-circular head 197 on such pin 194 limiting its outward movement. Pivotally mounted at its lower end to the hollow frame member 11 is an arm 198, the upper end of this arm lying in a groove 199 in the collar 195, such end being pointed, as shown at 200, to engage with the non-circular member 197 to compress the same and move the end of the pin 194 out of the path of movement of the pin 198 on the hub of the tight pulley 17. A coil spring 201 se cured one end to the arm 198 and the other end to a rod 202 that is secured to the hollow frame member 11, tends to maintain the upper rounded portion of such arm 198 in engagement with the bottom of the groove 199. Secured to the arm 198 at a point intermediate its ends is one end of a link 208 tha-t has provided at its other end a stub shaft 204 on which is rotatably mounted a cam roller 205 adapted to engage with a cam path 206 formed on the inside of the flange of the tight pulley 17. As the pulley 17 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown, for example, in Fig. 6, the pointed end 200 of the arm 198 lying in the groove 199 of the collar 195 will engage with the non-circular head 197 of the pin 194 withdrawing such pin from engagement with the pin 198 of the pulley 17 and stopping thereby the rotative movement of the main drive shaft 15 and, therefore, the reciprocating movement of the cross head and parts carried thereby while allowing the pulley 17 to rotate under the influence of its driving belt. As the pulley 17 rotates, the cam surface 206 on the interior of the arm thereof engages with the roller 205 on the link 208, causing a rotative movement to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, of the arm 198, causing the end 200 of such arm to release the pin 194 which, under the influence of the spring 196, returns to its initial position, as shown in Fig. 15, in position therefore, to be engaged by the pin 198 ou the hub of the driving pulley 17. This stop'iing of the cross head 28 and parts carried thereby is so timed with the cooperative action of the blocks 40 and 187 that such blocks are l'irought together into the compressive `position shown in, Fig. 18 and held there for a predetermined length of time to allow the full force of'the compressive action to be exerted on the molded or moldable material on the lacing ends and suchmaterial solidified.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows, it being assumed that the lacing comes in reels and is of indeterminate length and that it is desired to out vthe same into short predetermined lengths and to tip each length of each predetermined length or the end of the lacing passed through the eye 146 of the arm 145, under the rollers 142 on the U shaped member 141, through eyes 144 on the top of the member 189, through the short length of tube 96 at the end of the arm 95 and such end is then tied to any convenient portion of the machine as, for example, to the arm 182 adjacent to the block 184. Power is thrown onto the machine by moving the driving belt (not shown) from the loose pulley 18 onto the tight driving pulley 17 and the lever 157 is moved into position to be engaged by the bearing member 151 on the member 152, as shown in Fig. 18, to cause engagement of the clutch elements 77 and 86 and the connection therefore of the shaft 75 to the driving mechanism. It is assumed, also, that, previous to the operations above described, current is turned on to heat the electrical heating units 84 and 69 and that the tank or basin 100 has been filled to the proper depth with liquid or semi-liquid material and with which it is desired to tip the ends of the lengths of lacing 97. The reciprocating motion of the cross head 28 will, through the curved connecting arm 59, give to the feed chains 46 a step by step movement in the direction of the arrows shown and. as such feed chains pass upward over the sprocket 48, the element 126 is separated from the link 124, forming ay substantially v shaped passage in which the lacing 97 is led by the rotation of the shaft 7 5, the lacing in this movement passing over the curved ends of the curved bearing rod 180 downwardly under the hook-like end of the bar 182 and upward again on the next revolution of the shaft 75, depositing the next loop of lacing into the succeeding V shaped groove formed by the separation of the next succeeding element 126 from its associated link 124. As the shaft rotates, the cam 104 thereof engages with the pin 108 on the lower end of the lever 102, rocking such lever and causing an upward and downward motion of the arm 109 about its pivotal point 108, the end 110 of such arm carrying up at each upward movement sulicient of the liquid from the tank 100 to thoroughly satiuate a required length of the lacing 97 that lies between the feed chains 46. As such arm 109 moves uiinvard and deposits the liquid on the lacing, as above described, the cani 118 on the shaft 7 5 engages with the curved lower end of `the shaft 116, rocking such shaft and causing the arm 119 secured to the top thereof to engage with the pivoted arm 111 and move the same into engagement with the curved end 110, squeezing the saturated portion of the lacing therebetween and removing therefrom the surplus liquid material. As the feed chains move forward step by step toward the block 187, the iirst loop of the lacing laid onto such feed chains is engaged by the heel; 168, in the manner above described, 'which pulls the lacing over and into position in engagement with the groove 190 in such block 187. The cross head 28, in its reciproczfiting movement toward the block 187, carries the block Ll() into the position shown in Fig. 12, severing a predetermined length oit lacing trom the lacing 97 of in determirgiate length and cutting out therefrom a section ot lacing equal in length to the width ot the slot 189, as shown in Fig. 14. Further movement ot the block 1:9 toward the bloclr 187 brings the grooves 19() and 191 into cooperative position, as shown in Fig. 13, to compress and round the ends of the lacing lengths, whether such lacing be round or oblong or any other shape in cross section, compressing the liquid molded or moldable material into cylindrical-like shape and causing the Aflow et any excess oit material over the ends in such manner as to seal such ends with the material. At this point in the operation of the apparatus, the point 20() on the arm 198 engages with the non-cylindrical head 197 ot the pin 19d, withdrawing such pin 'from engagement with the pin 193 inI the driving pulley 17 and stopping movement of the cross head 28 and all parts associated with said cross head, holding the grooves 199 and 191 in cooperative relation to each other until the pulley 17 has made practically a complete revolution when the pins 192 and 193 again come into engagement and the rotative movement ot the main drive shaft again takes place. ltiter the block Ll0, carried by the cross head 28, has been moved away from the block 187, the enlarged end 183 ot the lever 182 operates, above described and as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, to pull the ends of the predetermined lengths ot lacing from engagement with the members 126 and 123 whereupon such predetermined lengths drop out-ward to be caught and engaged by the rounded portion oitl the rods 135. nssuming that the machine is operating properly, the above sequence ot operations is carried out indefinitely or as long as any of the. lacing olf indeterminate length remains. lt, however` as sometimes happens, a knot appears in the lacing 97, or a ravel portion is encountered, too large to pass through the eye 11G ot the arm 145, the tension exerted on the lacing 97 by the rotating arm 95 on the shaft 75 pulls the arm 145 against the tension or its spring 1117, moving the arcuate member 149 through the slot 150 in the standard 138 and the end of such arcuate member 1 19 engages with the arm 15S et the member 152, rotating such member 152 and moving 4the catch 151 thereon from engagement with the lever 157 whereupon the spring acts to move the safety clutch operating lever 8O about its pivotal point 81 and separating the clutch elements 77 and 86 thereby stopping rotation of the shaft and preventing injury to the machine or the tipping ot imperfect lacings.

lVhile l have necessarily shown and described the preferred embodiment of my improved apparatus somewhat in detail, it is to be understood that 1 may vary the size, shape, and ar 'angement et parts or such apparatus within wide limits without departing 'trom the spirit ot the invention.

My present machine is adapted to carry out my novel method ont lace tipping, this method being broadly claimed in my copending application, Ser. No. 474253, filed June 1, 1921.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new is:

1. 1n a machine ot the class described, the combination ot means tor looping an indeterminate length ot lacing into loops of predetern'iined length, means tor grasping each loop at a plurality ot points, means tor inipregnating a section ot each loop with a solation et molded or moldable material, and means for shaping and setting the impregnated portions ot the loops.

2. ln a machine or" the class described, the combination of means for looping an indeterminate length of lacing into loops ol predetermined length, means or grasping each loop at a plurality of points spaced apart from each other and feeding the loops torward step by step, means lior impregnating a portion of each loop between the holding means with a solution et molded or moldablc material, heating elements spaced apart Jrom each other and between which the impregnated portions ot the loops are fed, and means tor compressing and setting the impregnated portions ot the loops a'trer they have passed between the heating elements.

3. 1n a machine of the class described, the combination ot means Ytor looping a lacing ot indeterminate lengtn into loops ot predetermined lengtl., means tor grasping each loop at a plurality ot points spaced apart from each other and feeding the loops torward step by step ilu'oigh the nuu'hine, means for imm'egnating a portion ot each loop with a solution ot molded or moldable material, heating elements sj'iaced apart trom each other and between which the iinpregnated portion is ted, a molding bloeit associated with the feeding and holding means, means for placing each loop in its 'toi-ward feeding movement into position on 'the block, means for severing each loop at a point intermediate the ends ot the impregnated portion, and means for shaping and setting such impregnated portions.

d. 1n a machine of the class described, the

combination of means for looping a lacing of indeterminate length into loops of predetermined length, means for grasping each loop at a plurality of points spaced apart from each other and feeding the loops for ward step by step through the machine, means for impregnating a portion of each loop with solution of molded or moldable material, means for removing surplus molded or moldable i aterial therefrom, heating elements spaced apart from each other and between which the impregnated portion is fed, a molding block associated with the feeding and holding means, means for placing each loop in its forward feeding movement in position on the bloclr, means for severing each loop at a point intermediate the ends of the impregnated portion, and means for shaping and setting such impregnated portions.

5. ln a machine of the class described, the combination of means for looping a lacing of indeterminate length into loops of predetermined length, means for grasping each loop at a plurality of points spaced apart from each other and feeding the loops forward step by step through the machine, means for impregnating a portion of each loop with a solution of molded or moldable material, heating elements spaced apart from each other and between which the impregnated portion is fed, a molding block associated with the feeding and holding means, means for placing each loop in its forward :feeding movement in position on the block, means for severing each loop at a point intermediate the ends of the impregnated portion, means for shaping and setting the impregnated portions of the loop, and means for removing the ends of the loop from the feeding means.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a base, a drive shaft ro tatably mounted therein, a cross head connected to said drive shaft and having a reciprocating movement in the base, a rotatably mounted shaft in said base, means for connecting said shaft at will to the drive shaft, an arm attached to said shaft, means on said arm through which a lacing of indeterminate length passes, a pair of feeding chains mounted in said base, means operable by the cross head for imparting an intermittent feeding movement to the feeding chains, a plurality of holding means on the chains, the intermittent step by step of the feeding chains being operable in synchronism with the rotation of the shaft carrying the arin` whereby the loops of lacing are each fed into, and grasped by, the holding devices on the feeding chains, a reservoir for holding a solution of molded or moldable material located beneath one end of the feeding chains, means associated with said reservoir and operable by the last said shaft for feeding a predetermined amount of solution onto the portion of the lacing held by the feeding chains, and means also operable by the last said shaft for removing surplus solution from the lacing.

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a reservoir for holding a so lution of molded or moldable material, a pair of feed chains spaced apart from each other and at each side of the reservoir, means on said chains for holding and feeding a length of lacing over the top of said reservoir; means for feeding a predetermined amount of solution upward from said reservoir and onto a portion of the lacing extending between the feed chains, and means cooperating with said solution feeding means for removing surplus solution from the lacing.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a reservoir for holding a solution of molded or moldable material, a pair of feed chains spaced apart from each other and located at each side of the reservoir, means for moving said feed chains in unison and with a step by step movement, a plurality of holding means on each chain for holding a length of lacing and feeding same upward step by step across the top of the reservoir, means for placing a length of lacing in position on the chain at each step by step movement thereof, means for feeding a solution onto each length of lacing from the reservoir, means cooperating with such last means for removing surplus molded or moldable material from the lacings, and means for operating these latter two means operating in synchronism with the step by step movement of the feeding chains.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a base, a drive shaft mounted therein, a cross head mounted in said base, connections between the cross head and drive shaft for imparting a reciprocating movement to the cross head, a second shaft rotatably mounted in' said base, driving connections between the main driving shaft and said second shaft, a clutch controlling the connection of said second shaft to the drive shaft, a looping arm attached to said second shaft for looping a lacing of indeterminate length into loops of predetermined circumference, a standard, a lever pivotally mounted thereon, connections between said lever and said clutch for controlling the operation thereof, a latch on said standard and engaging with the lever to hold the clutch in operative position, an arm pivotally mounted on said standard and provided with an eye through which the lacing passes before engaging with the looping arm, and means attached to said pivoted arm and engaging the latch on the standard whereby, if the lacing becomes tangled or 

